✦ ❖ ✦ D A A T · L E V E L 3 — S Y N T H E S I S / R E V I E W ✦ ❖ ✦
Siman 117 — Not Trading in Forbidden Food
שלא לעשות סחורה מדבר איסור
The core prohibition and its reason (שמא יבוא לאכול), lending on a pledge, buying to feed workers, the חֵלֶב exception, the incidental case of the צייד (נזדמן), a debt from a non-Jew (מציל מידם) and the rabbinic prohibition
Structured review, master grid, fast memorization
Source: Shulchan Aroukh, Yoreh De'ah קי״ז — 1 seif
Nossei kelim: ש״ך (Shach) · ט״ז (Taz) · פר״ח (Pri Hadash) · פתחי תשובה (Pithei Teshuva)
Compiled by: הרב יוסף חיים סממה · DAAT
For students who have mastered Levels 1 and 2
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📑 Outline of the synthesis
- The axiom: no trading in a Torah-forbidden food
- The 3 reflex questions: de'oraita or de'rabanan · meant for eating · incidental or intended
- The master grid: the 7 rules of the single seif
- The 5 golden rules
- Mnemonic — the "SE'HORA" memory aid
- The 4 classic pitfalls
- Recap of the single seif — rule by rule
- Final flashcard
1. The axiom: no trading in a Torah-forbidden food
The starting point:
Siman 117 no longer speaks of a mixture or a taste, but of money: anything forbidden by the Torah, even if permitted for benefit (מותר בהנאה), as long as it is an item meant for eating (דבר המיוחד למאכל), one is forbidden to trade in it (סחורה). The Mehaber (single seif) states it; the Beit Yossef gives its reason in the name of the Rashba: "גזרה שמא יבוא לאכול מהם" — lest, through handling it, one come to eat it. The Taz (s.k. 1) objects that in פסחים כ״ג the prohibition appears de'oraita ("לכם — שלכם יהא") — hence a חקירה: a rabbinic decree or a Torah law?
| Basis | Rabbinic decree (Rashba / Beit Yossef) | Torah law (Taz, פסחים כ״ג) |
|---|
| Source of the prohibition | שמא יבוא לאכול מהם — a decree of the Sages | "לכם — שלכם יהא" — excludes all trade-benefit |
| Scope (lending, buying for workers) | Extends by the decree | Extends by law |
| What the Torah permitted explicitly (חֵלֶב) | The Sages do not forbid it (Taz) | Permitted (disputed by Chavot Yair, Panim Meirot) |
💡 The marker: this siman no longer speaks of "cold / hot / salted" nor of "taste," but of trading (סחורה) in a דבר המיוחד למאכל forbidden by the Torah. Hold on to three axes: the substance (meant for eating, מותר בהנאה or not), the degree (de'oraita forbidden / de'rabanan permitted), and the intent (intended trade forbidden / an incidental opportunity tolerated).
2. The 3 reflex questions
■ DE'ORAITA OR DE'RABANAN? (איסור תורה / מדרבנן) — is the food forbidden by the Torah? If yes → trade is forbidden (even מותר בהנאה). If forbidden only by rabbinic law → trade is permitted in every manner (Taz s.k. 4).
↓ we look at the substance
■ IS IT A דבר המיוחד למאכל? (meant for eating) — the prohibition falls only on what is meant for eating (Shach s.k. 1): it excludes horses, donkeys, camels (סתמן למלאכה — usually for labor). The חֵלֶב is explicitly permitted for use ("יֵעָשֶׂה לְכָל מְלָאכָה"), and the דם is "הוקש למים".
↓ we look at the intent
■ INCIDENTAL OR INTENDED? (נזדמן / שלא יתכוין) — a צייד (hunter/fisher) upon whom impure game incidentally falls may sell it, בלבד שלא יתכוין לכך (provided he did not seek it), and at once (מיד) (Rama). Intentional trade in a de'oraita item → forbidden.
⚖ The incidental case (נזדמנו) — only the צייד and the מציל מידם
The צייד whose trade (אומנות) it is, upon whom impure beasts / birds / fish fall incidentally — or one to whom a נבילה / טריפה happens to come — may sell them, בלבד שלא יתכוין, and מיד (without letting it "fatten" in his keeping — Rama). The Taz (s.k. 3) restricts this: permitted only to the צייד, not to a private person. Likewise, collecting a debt in impure items from a non-Jew is permitted: כמציל מידם (like rescuing from their hand — Rashba). But it is forbidden to sell a נבילה to a non-Jew בחזקת כשירה (passing it off as kosher — cf. חושן משפט סי' רכ״ח).
3. The master grid: the 7 rules of the single seif
An absolute must to memorize. Basis: Mehaber (single seif) read with the Beit Yossef (Rashba), the Rama, the Taz (s.k. 1-4), the Shach (s.k. 1-3) and the Pitchei Teshuva.
| Situation | Decisive criterion | Result |
|---|
| Trading in a Torah-forbidden food (דבר המיוחד למאכל) |
שמא יבוא לאכול (Rashba); or de'oraita (Taz) |
🔴 Forbidden, even מותר בהנאה |
| Lending on a pledge (להלוות עליו) of such a food |
"מכוער" (תה״ד); and a real prohibition (Rashba's reason) |
🔴 Forbidden |
| Buying it to feed his workers (non-Jews) |
Hagahot Maïmoni forbids; Shach/Pri Hadash: feeding is not סחורה |
🟡 Forbidden (but "feeding" is debated — PT s.k. 4) |
| Trading in חֵלֶב (forbidden fats) |
"יֵעָשֶׂה לְכָל מְלָאכָה" — permitted for use |
🟢 Permitted (the Torah permitted it for use) |
| Incidental case (נזדמן): a צייד who comes upon the impure |
שלא יתכוין + מיד (Rama); to the צייד alone (Taz) |
🟢 May sell it at once, without having sought it |
| Collecting a debt in impure items from a non-Jew |
כמציל מידם (Rashba) |
🟢 Permitted (like rescuing from their hand) |
| Selling a נבילה to a non-Jew בחזקת כשירה (as kosher) |
Deception (גניבת דעת) — חו״מ רכ״ח |
🔴 Forbidden in any event |
| A food forbidden only by rabbinic law |
The gloss "מיד / שלא יתכוין" applies only to de'oraita (Taz s.k. 4) |
🟢 Trade permitted in every manner |
📌 Key reading: first ask de'oraita or de'rabanan (de'rabanan → permitted). Then: is it meant for eating? The חֵלֶב (יעשה לכל מלאכה) and the דם (הוקש למים) are explicit exceptions of the Torah. Finally, distinguish intended trade (forbidden) from the incidental case of the צייד / מציל מידם (permitted, שלא יתכוין, מיד) — never בחזקת כשירה.
4. The 5 golden rules
- אסור לעשות סחורה בדבר איסור. Any Torah prohibition meant for eating (דבר המיוחד למאכל), even מותר בהנאה → trade forbidden (Mehaber, Rashba's reason: שמא יבוא לאכול).
- The prohibition extends to lending and to buying for one's workers. Lending on a pledge (להלוות עליו) of such a food, and buying it to feed one's non-Jewish workers, is forbidden (תה״ד, Hagahot Maïmoni) — though "feeding" is eased by the Shach / Pri Hadash (PT s.k. 4).
- The explicit exceptions: חֵלֶב and דם. The חֵלֶב "יֵעָשֶׂה לְכָל מְלָאכָה" and the דם "הוקש למים" → trade permitted (Pri Toar, Noda BiYehuda, Chatam Sofer — PT s.k. 1).
- The incidental case (נזדמן) of the צייד. The professional upon whom the impure falls may sell it, בלבד שלא יתכוין and מיד (Rama); to the צייד alone (Taz s.k. 3). Collecting a debt from a non-Jew = מציל מידם permitted.
- De'rabanan permitted; never בחזקת כשירה. A prohibition only of rabbinic law → trade permitted בכל גוונא (Taz s.k. 4). But selling a נבילה to a non-Jew passed off as kosher is forbidden (חו״מ רכ״ח).
5. Mnemonic — the "SE'HORA" memory aid
"S-E-'H-O-R-A" — after the סחורה of the siman
- Se'hora forbidden: no trading in a Torah-forbidden food, even מותר בהנאה.
- Extension: the prohibition reaches lending on a pledge (להלוות) and buying for one's workers.
- 'Helev (and דם): explicit exceptions — "יעשה לכל מלאכה" / "הוקש למים" → permitted.
- Opportunity, incidental (נזדמן): the צייד sells מיד, שלא יתכוין.
- Recover from a non-Jew: כמציל מידם permitted; never בחזקת כשירה.
- A de'rabanan item: forbidden only rabbinically → trade permitted בכל גוונא.
The ladder of the substance (what may be sold?)
- דבר המיוחד למאכל forbidden by the Torah → trade forbidden (Shach s.k. 1)
- חזיר (pig) → all forbidden, משום מעשה שהיה (Shach)
- סתמן למלאכה (horse, donkey, camel) → not "meant for eating" → permitted
- חֵלֶב / דם → explicit exceptions → trade permitted
6. The 4 classic pitfalls
❌ Pitfall 1 — Thinking מותר בהנאה = trade permitted: a food may be permitted for benefit (מותר בהנאה) and yet forbidden to trade in (סחורה), as long as it is meant for eating (דבר המיוחד למאכל) and forbidden by the Torah. The seif states it expressly ("אף על פי שמותר בהנאה"). Never infer from "one may benefit from it" that "one may trade in it."
❌ Pitfall 2 — Forgetting the "שלא יתכוין" of the incidental case: the leniency of the נזדמן holds only if the צייד did not intend it (בלבד שלא יתכוין לכך) and sells at once (מיד), without letting the animal "fatten" in his keeping (Rama). Turning the incidental opportunity into an organized trade voids the leniency; and the Taz (s.k. 3) reserves it to the צייד whose trade it is, not to a private person.
❌ Pitfall 3 — Selling a נבילה as kosher: collecting a debt from a non-Jew in impure items is permitted (כמציל מידם), but it is forbidden to sell a נבילה to a non-Jew בחזקת כשירה, that is, presenting it to him as kosher (deception / גניבת דעת — cf. חושן משפט סי' רכ״ח). Likewise, selling cooked טריפה meat to a non-Jew → fear of תקלה (mishap — Chavot Yair, PT s.k. 7).
❌ Pitfall 4 — Confusing de'oraita and de'rabanan: the trade prohibition applies by law only to what is forbidden by the Torah. For a prohibition only of rabbinic law, trade is permitted בכל גוונא, and the glosses "מיד" / "שלא יתכוין" do not concern it (Taz s.k. 4). Do not apply the stringency of a de'oraita prohibition to a mere rabbinic one.
For the halacha le-ma'aseh, consult your Rav.
7. Recap of the single seif — rule by rule
| Rule | Topic | The essential |
|---|
| 1 | Core prohibition + reason | Anything forbidden by the Torah, even מותר בהנאה, if it is a דבר המיוחד למאכל → forbidden to trade in (סחורה). Reason (Beit Yossef in the name of the Rashba): גזרה שמא יבוא לאכול מהם. [Taz s.k. 1: in פסחים כ״ג it appears de'oraita — "לכם שלכם יהא".] |
| 2 | Lending on a pledge (להלוות עליו) | It is also forbidden to lend against such a forbidden food taken as a pledge (תה״ד סי' ר׳: "מכוער"; and per the Rashba's reason: a real prohibition). |
| 3 | Buying for one's workers | Even to buy it to feed his workers (non-Jews) is forbidden (Hagahot Maïmoni). [Shach s.k. 3 / Pri Hadash: buying to feed is not "כעין סחורה" → would be permitted — PT s.k. 4.] |
| 4 | The חֵלֶב exception | Permitted to trade in it, for it is said "יֵעָשֶׂה לְכָל מְלָאכָה": the Torah explicitly permitted it for every use. [Likewise the דם, "הוקש למים" — PT s.k. 1.] |
| 5 | The incidental case (נזדמן) of the צייד | A hunter / fisher whose trade it is, upon whom impure beasts/birds/fish fall incidentally (or to whom a נבילה/טריפה comes), may sell them, בלבד שלא יתכוין לכך. Taz s.k. 3: to the צייד alone. Rama: he sells it מיד, without letting it fatten. |
| 6 | A debt from a non-Jew / מציל מידם | One who collects his debt in impure items from a non-Jew → permitted, כמציל מידם (Rashba). But forbidden to sell a נבילה to a non-Jew בחזקת כשירה (חו״מ רכ״ח). |
| 7 | A prohibition of rabbinic law | What is forbidden only by rabbinic law → trade permitted בכל גוונא (Taz s.k. 4: the gloss "מיד" / "שלא יתכוין" applies only to de'oraita). |
8. Final flashcard
| Question | Reflex answer | Source |
|---|
| Food forbidden by the Torah, מותר בהנאה? | Trade forbidden nonetheless (דבר המיוחד למאכל) | Mehaber; Rashba (ב״י) |
| Why is it forbidden? | שמא יבוא לאכול (Rashba); or de'oraita (Taz, פסחים כ״ג) | Beit Yossef; Taz s.k. 1 |
| Lending on a pledge / buying for one's workers? | Forbidden (but "feeding" debated: Shach/Pri Hadash) | תה״ד; Hag. Maïmoni; PT s.k. 4 |
| Trading in חֵלֶב? | Permitted: "יעשה לכל מלאכה" | Mehaber; PT s.k. 1 |
| Trading in דם? | Permitted: "הוקש למים" | Pri Toar; נו״ב; ח״ס (PT s.k. 1) |
| A צייד upon whom the impure falls (נזדמן)? | Sells מיד, שלא יתכוין; to the צייד alone | Rama; Taz s.k. 3 |
| A debt from a non-Jew in impure items? | Permitted: כמציל מידם; never בחזקת כשירה | Rashba; חו״מ רכ״ח |
| A food forbidden only by rabbinic law? | Trade permitted בכל גוונא | Taz s.k. 4 |
⚖ The reflex in 3 questions
- De'oraita or de'rabanan? Forbidden by the Torah → trade forbidden; only rabbinic → permitted בכל גוונא.
- Which substance? דבר המיוחד למאכל (forbidden) ≠ סתמן למלאכה (permitted); the חֵלֶב (יעשה לכל מלאכה) and the דם (הוקש למים) are explicit exceptions.
- Intended or incidental? Intended trade in a de'oraita item is forbidden; the incidental case of the צייד / מציל מידם is permitted (שלא יתכוין, מיד); never בחזקת כשירה.
For the halacha le-ma'aseh, consult your Rav.
🎓 Recap of the study path
| Level | Content | Acquired |
|---|
| 🌱 Level 1 — Base |
Text of the single seif, translation, clear tables |
Overall understanding |
| ⚡ Level 2 — Lamdan |
The חקירה on the basis (rabbinic decree / de'oraita), the דבר המיוחד למאכל (Shach, R"T), "הוקש למים", the נזדמן / שלא יתכוין boundary |
In-depth study |
| ✨ Level 3 — Synthesis |
Master grid, golden rules, mnemonic, pitfalls, recap of the seif |
Practical mastery + review |
💡 Suggested next steps:
- Re-read Siman קי״ז in the original Choulhan Aroukh (Hebrew) with the Shach and the Taz
- Study the adjacent simanim and sources: 84 (תולעים — worms, selling them to a non-Jew), חושן משפט סי' רכ״ח (deception / גניבת דעת), and the simanim of blood (דם) and חֵלֶב
- Delve into פסחים כ״ג ("לכם — שלכם יהא") and the חקירה on the basis of the trade prohibition
- Discuss personal cases with a Rav (investing in a non-kosher business, selling טריפה, feeding animals) — the halacha le-ma'aseh is decided with a Rav
📖 Sources of this siman on Sefaria:
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
DAAT · הרב יוסף חיים סממה
תלמיד חכם · מעביר שיעורים בהלכה ובחסידות
סימן קי״ז · Level 3 — Synthesis / Review · שלא לעשות סחורה מדבר איסור
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